Going to Town to Preach

According to the book, Life of Francis d’ Assisi, Francis once invited a young monk to join him on a trip to town to preach. Honored to be given the invitation, the monk readily accepted. All day long he and Francis walked through the streets, byways, and alleys, and even into the suburbs. They rubbed shoulders with hundreds of people. At the day’s end, the two headed home. Not even once had Francis addressed a crowd. Greatly disappointed, his young companion said, “I thought we were going into town to preach.”

Francis responded, “My son, we have preached. We were seen by many and we were closely watched. It is of no use to walk anywhere to preach unless we preach everywhere as we walk.”

And it is so true, that our everyday actions speak volumes about what we believe. Listening ears, generous hearts, and forgiving spirits proclaim the good news in a way that words never can.

The prayer of Saint Francis is one that continues to touch my life. It is a constant reminder to me, that faith and hope are action words. The more we draw on them and put them to use the stronger they become.

Let us pray: 

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace. 
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is darkness, light;
and where there is sadness, joy.

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek 
to be consoled as to console, 
to be understood and to understand, 
to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive,
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned, 
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.